Poll

Opinion

December may be the mid-point of the school year, but for our public schools, colleges and universities, this particular month happens to be the start of a new era.

First, the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education chose as its new president someone who spent the first half of this decade running the largest higher education system in the country: the State University of New York. Second, the Department of Education’s commissioner announced he would be stepping down soon due to health reasons.

As we gather with friends and family to celebrate the holidays, I hope you will take a moment to reflect upon the joy and blessings in our lives. We are fortunate each day to enjoy the freedom, equality and justice that make the United States the greatest country in the world.

I would like to start off by thanking everyone who attended the annual Christmas in New Castle on Friday, Dec 5. I would like to thank all the parade participants, City of New Castle employees, New Castle Police Department, New Castle Fire Department, Prewitt’s Funeral Home, Henry County Judge Exec Office, New Castle Renaissance Committee, Joe Berry, Homer Druin, Merrie Melodious Dulcimers, Morris Insurance Agency, Kentucky State Police Trooper Chip Perry, My Cottage Web Studio, Froggy 104.9, WHAS TV 11, New Castle Festival Committee members with their help in having anothe

Early this year, Kentucky got a sobering wake-up call when the Pew Center on the States said we had the nation’s fastest-growing prison population in 2007. While most states saw their numbers rise by less than five percent from the previous year, ours went up 12 percent.

I fully understand that the business of journalism relies on sensationalist headlines and scandal. But I’d like to take this small space to remind you of where it is you are trying to do business. Henry County is a (sometimes unfortunately) place where most people know the story long before this paper is printed. For you, it is sometimes difficult to realize your place here, but it was no more apparent than when I read your article concerning Michael Wells on the front page of the Dec. 17 paper.

Well, here we go again…a new year…a fresh start with more good intentions and the pledge to spend more time with the family, begin healthier habits, get organized or begin that “read the Bible in a year program.” Don’t worry, this is not another one of those motivational columns that promises to help you reach all those lofty goals you have set for yourself. This is, however, a column written by your community anti-drug coalition that is dedicated to strengthening the families of Henry County.

For several years now, I’ve had the distinct pleasure of helping type Santa letters.

And I don’t say that tongue in cheek — I do enjoy them. Though some can be hard to read, and typing the letters exactly as the children have written them can be tough, more often than not they are entertaining and in some cases quite touching.

Several years ago, I remember when the Pokeman craze hit — there were about as many spelling options for Pokeman as you can imagine — and none of them quite right.

It was with dismay that this week’s Local had a front page headline about the death of a Henry County man. Death anytime is so sad, but at this time of year, it is worse. The family will never celebrate another Christmas season without remembering the loss of that loved one, and it will be a bittersweet memory for them.

In December of 1970 when our first child was a baby, my husband and I lived in a tiny house overlooking miles of prairie near Auburn, Kansas. Given my fascination with pioneers, I decided that, like Kansans of long ago, we should use a tumbleweed for a Christmas tree. I was excited to relive this tradition, and so we bundled up our baby and hiked onto a pasture in search of a suitable tumbleweed from among the many that piled up on the barbed wire fences along the north side.

I am writing in hopes that someone in the county can help me locate some information. I am looking for any information on a Charles Dorman Powell.

He married an Ann Coghill of New Castle in the mid to late 1940s. I know he had a sister by the name of Barbara and one, maybe two brothers. I am also looking for any information on a William or Albert Rudd that lived/owned farms on Fallen Timber Road in the 50’s.

In this fast paced, hurry up and get it done kind of world we live in, you can do just about anything without having to acknowledge another human being. Humor me, if you will, as I demonstrate a typical scenario:

It didn’t receive a lot of fanfare, but late last month marked the 10th anniversary of the $206 billion dollar settlement between the states and the major tobacco companies.

As many of you may know, Kentucky chose an innovative path for its portion of the money. In 2000, the General Assembly set aside half for agriculture and half for programs to help our youngest and sickest citizens.

5th Quarter is a great activity if you enjoy hanging out with your friends, meeting new friends, eating pizza, and being encouraged to do better. I’ve attended most of the 5th Quarter gatherings in the past and found them to be a good way to have fun with my friends following a Friday night home basketball game. There were several activities for Henry County and Eminence high school students to participate in. Those of us who enjoy playing basketball would divide up into teams and play against one another. Others who were not into playing basketball took

I have lived in this community for many years and have seen how people here pull together to help their neighbors and friends in times of need. I have also been witness to strangers taking time out of their day to lend a hand where a hand is needed. Henry Countians are blessed to be part of such a giving community. There are so many organizations, churches, and county services that are designed to help anyone in need. Tri-County Community Action Agency is one of those organizations designed to help individuals in need of assistance and we also service senior citizens in the county.

Christmas in New Castle, formerly Light Up New Castle, is this Friday, Dec. 5, from 5 to 8 p.m.

The twilight parade will begin lining up at New Castle Elementary School at 5:30 p.m. The parade will begin at 6 p.m. and the route of the parade will come Church Street to Main Street, through town to East College Street to North Property Road and back to the elementary school. All floats, cars, horses, etc. will be decorated for Christmas with decorations and lights. There is still room in the parade for you to participate.

Six weeks after Congress passed an unprecedented $700 billion bailout bill to help stabilize American financial institutions and the economy, another industry appeared before Congress in hopes of receiving a cash infusion from the U.S. government. During the week of November 17th, General Motors, Chrysler and Ford testified in the House and Senate about their joint request for $25 billion in loans to help meet operating expenses, payroll and settle accounts with suppliers.

int, Kentucky’s judicial branch is the same age as the executive and legislative branches, all of which were officially formed when our Constitution was adopted in 1891.

In reality, however, the judiciary as we know it is only little more than three decades old. Voters created it in 1975 when they did away with an often confusing variety of courts and replaced them with the orderly system we have today.